After having dropped both sons off at their respective schools, the younger in several layers of sweaters so that he would be warm enough at recess, Tim dropped the mangled jacket off at the seamstress with the instructions to do her best.
It was several days later when Tim's cell rang and Ms. Wychowsky, the seamstress, was on the other end explaining that she had 'repaired' the jacket but that although she had been successful at putting it back together it was not very attractive. Taking a detour on the way back to the office from an interview with a witness Tim dropped into the seamstress' shop. He thanked the woman and explained that he was happy with her efforts and understood that it was not her fault the coat looked like it had been through a battle and come out the other side the loser.
When Tim and Abby finally arrived home Kayla was dozing on the sofa in the living room and both boys were sound asleep. When they were in the middle of an investigation their schedule was somewhat erratic but Kayla had been with the family for years and understood. She regarded the boys as the younger brothers she'd never had. Tim set the coat over the back of Sam's chair in the kitchen before going to bed himself.
The morning dawned and the usual routine played out as the boys woke, dressed and came down to the kitchen to get something to eat for breakfast. Abby was buttering some toast as the both boys bounded into the kitchen. Luc quickly sat up in his chair calling over to his mother "mommy whatcha making for breakfast?" Before she could answer a deep throated growl exploded out of the younger child. He grabbed the coat off the back of his chair and flung it to the floor as he climbed into his booster seat, jaw clenched.
Abby ignored the outburst and pleasantly answered Luc as she set food in front of each boy. Sam flashed her a grimace that would have chilled even the most hardened of criminals. He ate the food with grunts and groans every few seconds glaring in the direction of his parents now that Tim arrived in the kitchen as well. Neither adult rising to the bait of the sour attitude continued to eat their own breakfast standing while making Luc's lunch and throwing the dishes into the dishwasher. Abby and Tim shared a few 'looks' of their own. Deciding who was dealing with the "growling monster" that was growing ever bad-tempered with every bite of toast.
Luc for his part kept his head down and ate quietly. His brother had only been on the planet for 2 and a half years but in that time he had demonstrated his ability to make a scene and dig himself into a deep holes he couldn't climb out of. Although most of the time Luc would throw his brother a rope to help pull himself out of said hole he wasn't in the mood this morning, besides which he was sure that this morning Sam was just as likely to tie himself a noose rather than using the life preserver to haul himself up.
As the last bite of toast was in his mouth Luc jumped up and ran to the bathroom to brush his teeth and wash up. Grabbing his back pack from his room he waited by the front door. Abby took several minutes to get her purse, jacket and keys. Smiling at Luc she said "Let's get going." Breathing a sigh of relief Luc called around the corner to the rest of the family "Bye, have a good day" knowing that things would probably fall apart the moment the front door closed and he and his mother were out of ear shot.
Tim playing dumb sweetly instructed "SamSam it's time to go brush your teeth and get your bag for school". Fuming Sam just stared at his father knowing that going to school would mean putting on the offending coat.
Shoving himself away from the table he stomped the entire way to the washroom. He let Tim help him brush his teeth reluctantly. An irritated expression plastered on his face the entire time. Tim had to use every fiber of his own self control to keep his face neutral and his tone agreeable. He was not impressed with his son's behavior but knew that if he showed any negative emotion the situation would rapidly plummet. As he stood in the bathroom looking in the mirror at the horrible sneer that was reflecting back at him from his offspring his own father came to mind. The then Commander would not have "let" "his" son act like this. But Tim was not his father, mostly on purpose, and he was going to give Sam the benefit of the doubt and hope that the small boy came to his senses when they were finally ready to walk out the door.
"Go get your back pack and meet me at the front door, OK Monkeyshine" Tim said his words sounding sickeningly sweet to his ears. Tim left the room and headed to the locked safe in his in the office to retrieve his gun and seized his own pack on the way to meet his son at the door. Sam already stood wearing his back pack and fall jacket by the door fighting with his shoes to get them on his feet. His emotional state more to blame for the frustration to get them on then his physical inability. He didn't look at his father as Tim knelt down and helped get the shoes straightened out and the velcro pulled tight. Holding out his hand he pulled Sam to his feet, the boy turned to the door and waited for it to open his arms folded tightly across his chest.
Tim shook his head thinking 'if nothing else Sam was a determined little fellow'. Taking a deep breath, Tim had to convince himself to follow through with this situation he'd set up. Then he heard his own voice before the thought had even been fully processed. "Sam. It's too cold for that jacket you need to wear your winter coat." His tone firm and somehow it didn't betray his wishy washy feeling he was harbouring.
"I am NOT wearing THAT coat EVER again!" Sam said with disgust dripping from every word.
"Sam. We had an agreement. I was going to get the coat fixed and you were going to wear it without argument." Tim's statement sounding very harsh to his own ears.
"I didn't REALLY agree" Sam said finally feeling brave enough to look over his shoulder to see his father standing directly behind him with the ugly coat hanging from his index finger.
"Oh Oh… You did very much agree little man" Tim countered.
"Nope…" Sam said a glint of mischievousness sparkling in his eye as he turned to look at his father out of the side of his eye. "That agreement was done under distress" Sam explained unable to hide the smirk that was spreading across his little face.
"You mean 'duress' "Tim corrected, trying very hard not to smile at the precociousness of his small child.
"Whatever… it is not admittable … so you can't make me wear it" Sam declared hopeful that his argument would mean he didn't have to wear the coat.
"You mean 'admissable'" Tim corrected again. "And unfortunately this is not a court of law but the house of McGee and in this household your agreement stands. You wear the coat or we go upstairs and have the same conversation we had earlier this week and then you wear the coat." Tim tipped his head in a question to his child for him to answer.
Sam stood facing the door again, then slowly looked over his shoulder taking in his father's expression before turning back around. Sam wasn't sure what to do, he really hated that coat, if felt funny before, not it really was going to feel funny with all the seams. He also couldn't back down, he couldn't NOT win. His dad wasn't really serious or was he? Looking again over his shoulder he saw the raised eyebrows and set jaw and turned back to the door and hung his head in frustration. Stomping his foot he tried the whining approach "Daddy… please I am fine in this coat… I don't wanna wear that one".
Tim raised his eyebrows and leaned his head forward holding the coat out a closer to his son. He had enough experience of being on the receiving end of the "are you going to push it?" look to do it very well.
Snatching the coat from his father's grip and holding it against his chest his arms still folded in defiance Sam stood looking at the door. "Wearing it means it is ON" Tim instructed. "I'll wear it at school and on the way home. If we don't leave now we'll be late." Sam stated trying to open the front door even though he knew perfectly well it was locked and he wasn't going to be successful.
Tim weighed the pros and cons quickly with agreeing to this "new" arrangement. He needed to get to work as his team would be waiting for him. "If I hear that you gave your teachers or Kayla a hard time we WILL be having THAT conversation" he said pointing up the stairs. "Got it?" he asked his son waiting for a verbal response before unlocking the door.
"Got it" the exasperated boy breathed out in a huff.
As the two walked out the door Tim swatted his son's backside with the words "I mean it Sam". Hoping the reminder of what was at stake would encourage his son to hold up his end of the bargain.